Progress of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Release from Heath Shuler's office mentions work of Woodfin Police Department...

Congressman Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) and law enforcement officials from throughout Western North Carolina announced the progress of an ongoing effort to identify, arrest, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children online or in person. 

 

In May, the Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force began Operation Western Shield, a cooperative effort by law enforcement agencies in Western North Carolina to identify, apprehend and bring to prosecution individuals who exploit children.    Operation Western Shield has to-date arrested 25 predators in Polk, Macon, Haywood, Buncombe, Transylvania, Swain and Cherokee Counties.  Just this week, law enforcement officials issued ten search warrants and conducted six knock and talks in efforts to protect children and bring those who would hurt them to justice.

 

“As a parent, I am shocked by the statistics about children being sexually solicited and victimized.  As a legislator, I am honored to be able to help our local law enforcement agents get the resources necessary to keep our kids safe and secure,” said Rep. Shuler who fought for and secured $210,000 for this initiative in 2009.  

 

A study conducted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that one in every five girls will be sexually victimized before they reach age 18.  Only one third of those will tell someone.  One in every seven children who regularly use the internet will receive some sort of sexual solicitation.  One in three are unintentionally exposed to sexual content online. 

 

The Internet Crimes Against Children’s Task Force combines the efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.  State and national agencies participating in Operation Western Shield include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

 

Locally, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Spruce Pine Police Department and the Black Mountain Police Department , Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Hendersonville Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Waynesville Police Department, Yancey County Sheriff’s Office, Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, and Woodfin Police Department all participate in this important initiative to protect the children of Western North Carolina.